714 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



the importance of a second place in tlie destruction of the herd, but made 

 no investigation of its methods or results. 



The most important piece of work which Mr. Elliott, or anyone else 

 in studying the seals, has had to do is the making of a census of the 

 brecdiug herd. That his estimate of 1872-1874: is inaccurate and more 

 than twice too great finds some excuse in the magnitude of the problem 

 then involved. But no such excuse exists for his work of 1890. The 

 herd had been greatly reduced, and ])arts of it at least were within the 

 reach of exact enumeration. Notwithstanding, his survey and estimate 

 of 1890 are much less satisfactory than the earlier one. 



Mr. Elliott in 1890 did, however, reconsider one conclusion reached in 

 1872-1874. He found at the latter date that no injurious effects resulted 

 from the method of land killing. This was an important conclusion 

 and absolutely true, but its withdrawal in 1890 was necessary to clear 

 the way for his theory of overdriving and to further his purpose of 

 securing the canceling of the agreement with the present lessees of the 

 islands. 



Two causes of decline are stated by Mr. Elliott — one of them, the 

 injurious effects of land killing, is elaborated at great length; the other, 

 the injurious eftects of killing- at sea, is barely mentioned. The first is 

 wholly imaginary-; the second valid, but made insignificant by his 

 manner of treatment. 



His proposed remedies follow the order of the causes to which they 

 are to be applied. He would have land killing suspended for seven 

 years and sea killing restricted. His i)lan would have provided for a 

 supply of bulls fully one hundred times as great as necessary, first, and 

 alterwards, for the restriction of the slaughter of the females they were 

 to serve. The first part of the plan, wholly useless and unnecessary, it 

 was within the i^ower of the United States to carry out. The second 

 part was at best a possibility, to be insured only by the cooperation of 

 other nations. 



It is not for us to say what were the motives which prompted such 

 work. We believe, however, that we are justified in saying that its 

 methods and results can not be too strongly condemned. 



