Statement of the extent of Canadian pelagic sealing, including the total number of vessels, tonnage, crews, and total catch of sealskins, for the years 1881 to 1890, inclusive. * Estimated. The actual catch was probably over these figures, especially in 1884. The figures in the above statement have been carefully compiled from official and other authentic sources and are approximately correct. The Indian portion of the crews of 1884, 1885, 1886, and 1888 were not, apparently, counted as they had been in former years, and as they were in the succeeding years. This will account for the light crews of these years. LEVI W. MYERS, Consul. Victoria, British Columbia, April 28, 1892. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, TREASURY LIST OF RAIDS. CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Treasury Department, July 27, 1892. Pursuant to section 882 of the Revised Statutes, I hereby certify that the annexed memoranda concerning raids on the seal islands of Alaska compiled from the records of this Department are correct. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Treasury Department to be affixed, on the day and year first above written. [L. S.] CHARLES FOSTER, Secretary of the Treasury. At the request of the Secretary of State an examination of the archives of the Treasury Department has been made in order to determine the number and extent of illegal killing of fur-seals on the Pribilof Islands, in Bering Sea, by unauthorized persons. Such examination shows the following raids have been reported by the officials of this Department, in charge of said islands, since 1870: 1. On the first and second days of September, 1874, the schooner Cygnet landed some men on a rookery on St. George Island or Otter Island and killed 34 seals. 2. In 1875 the schooner San Diego raided the "hauling ground" on Otter Island and was seized by the officials at San Francisco, Cal., with about 1,600 skins. 3. During October, 1881, the schooner Otter raided St. George Island rookeries and obtained 145 skins. 4. The schooner Adele, in the autumn of 1884, was captured by Lieutenant Leutza, of the Revenue Marine, killing seals on one of the rookeries. 5. In June, 1885, the crew of an unknown vessel landed on the rookeries and killed over 500 seals before being detected and driven off. 6. July 20, 1885, evidences of a raid were found under the cliffs on St. George Island, but the vessel and number of skins obtained are unknown. It was estimated the number of seals killed were 600 or 700. 7. The schooner San Diego, which was seized in July, 1886, by Captain Abbey, had some skins of young pups on board, which had been clubbed, showing that the vessel had raided one of the rookeries. 8. August 8, 1886, a small number of seals were clubbed on a rookery on St. George Island by unknown parties. 9. In July, 1887, the schooner Angel Dolly raided a rookery on St. George Island and was subsequently seized by the Treasury Agent in charge of said island with 170 skins on board. 10. A few dead pups were found on a rookery, showed a raid took place on St. George Island in August, 1890. It is supposed the vessel was the Nellie Martin. 11. September 15, 1890, six boat crews landed on Zapadnie rookery, St. George Island, and killed about 180 seals, but were driven off, leaving the dead seals on shore. 12. During November, 1888, the crew of an unknown vessel landed on Zapadnie rookery, St. George Island, but did little damage as only 12 or 15 seal carcasses were found on shore. 13. In the month of September, 1889, the evidences of a raid were discovered on St. George Island, and the Treasury agent in charge having set a watch, drove off the marauders, who endeavored to land at night. 14. In the latter part of November, 1890, the schooner Adele made a raid on the rookeries, taking about 400 seals, and subsequently was seized by the collector of the Port of Victoria for failure to make legal entrance on return. 15. November 17, 1891, the schoener Challenge raided a rookery on St. George Island, and obtained about 150 seals. 16. November 27, 1891, the schooner Borealis landed a crew on one of the St. Paul rookeries; the number of seals killed was about 400. CLAIM OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COMMERCIAL COMPANY. CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Treasury Department, July 23, 1892. Pursuant to section 882 of the Revised Statutes, I hereby certify that the annexed paper is a true copy of a letter on file in this Depart ment. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Treasury Department to be affixed, on the day and year first above written. [L. S.] Hon. CHARLES FOSTER, Secretary of the Treasury: CHARLES FOSTER, WASHINGTON, April 12, 1892. SIR: I am instructed by the North American Commercial Company, the lessee of the right to take fur-seals for their skins in Alaska, to present for payment by the United States its account for $1,532,947.44, due to said Company from the United States by reason of said Company's having been prohibited by the United States, during the years 1890 and 1891, from taking the number of fur-seals on the islands of St. Paul and St. George to which it was entitled under the law and its contract with the United States, dated March 12, 1890. It appears from the records of the Treasury Department that said Company was authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury to take a quota of 60,000 seals for their skins during each of the years 1890 and 1891, under the subsisting contract between the United States and the 'lessee, and in conformity with the law regulating the same. It further appears from the records of the Treasury Department that the United States prohibited said Company from taking its said quota of 60,000 in 1890 and said quota of 60,000 in 1891, and that the lessee was restricted to a quota of 20,995 fur-seals in 1890 and to 13,482 in 1891. So that, instead of securing 120,000 in 1890 and 1891, the lessee received but 34,477 during both years. Respectfully submitted. THE NORTH AMERICAN COMMERCIAL COMPANY, WASHINGTON, D. C., April —, 1892. The United States in account with the North American Commercial Company. September 1, 1890- ... To losses on account of being prohibited by the United States from taking 39,005 fur-seal skins on the islands of St. Paul and St. George, Alaska, which said Company was authorized by law and by its contract with the United States to take and ship from said islands during the year 1890, at $20.78 per skin September 1, 1891— To losses on account of being prohibited by the United States from taking 46,518 fur-seal skins on the islands of St. Paul and St. George, Alaska, which said Company was authorized by law and by its contract with the United States to take and ship from said islands during the year 1891, at $15.53 per skin......... $810, 523.90 722, 424.54 Total 1,532, 947. 44 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Pursuant to section 882 of the Revised Statutes, I hereby certify that the annexed paper is a true copy of a letter addressed to Hon. Noah L. Jeffries, attorney for the North American Commercial Company, as shown by the records in this Department. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Treasury Department to be affixed on the day and year first above written. [L.S.] CHARLES FOSTER, Secretary of the Treasury. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Hon. NOAH L. JEFFRIES, Attorney for the North American Commercial Company, Washington, D. C.: SIR: The Department has received your letter of this date, in which you withdraw the protest of the North American Commercial Company |