246 ARGUMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 



in the same place all his life. We extract that part of his testimony 

 which bears upon the question now under immediate consideration: 



Have seen only three fur-seals in this region in twenty years. Saw 

 them in May, L 890, traveling along the north side of Attu Island, about 

 5 miles offshore, and making a northwesterly course. They were young 

 males, 1 think. Fur-seals do not regularly visit these islands now, but 

 about twenty-live or thirty years ago 1 used to see small squads of large 

 seals during the month of June feeding and sleeping about the kelp 

 patches off the eastern shores of Attu and Agattu Islands. They came 

 from the southward and traveled in a northwesterly direction. Never 

 saw any fur seals east of the Semichi Islands and do not think that 

 those of the Commander Islands herd go farther to the eastward than 

 that. They decreased in numbers gradually, and during the last twenty 

 years I have only seen the three above mentioned. Have never seen a 

 nursing or mother cow or black or gray pup in this region, and do not 

 think they ever visit it. 



John Malowansky (ibid., p. 198) : Mr.Malowansky is a resident of San 

 Francisco, an American citizen, but a Russian by birth. He was, at the 

 time of testifying, a merchant by profession and an agent for the Rus- 

 sian Sealskin Company, lie resided on the Commander Islands in 18G9, 

 1870, and 1871, and was then engaged in the sealing business. He was 

 there again in 1887, as agent of the company. He formerly lived in 

 Kamtchatka and frequently visited the Commander Islands between 

 1871 and 1S87. He was an expert in all matters relating to the fur-seal 

 trade, especially on the Russian side of the Bering Sea. The follow- 

 ing is an extract from his testimony: 



The seals of the Commander Islands are of a different variety from 

 those of the Pribilofs. The fur is not so thick and bright and is of a 

 somewhat inferior quality. They form a distinct herd from that of St. 

 Paul and St. George, and in my opinion the two do not intermingle. 



1 was present as interpreter when the English Commissioners were 

 taking testimony on Bering Island. They examined among others, 

 when I was present, Jefim Snigeroff, Chief of Bering Island, he being 

 the person selected by them there from which to procure the testimony 

 relating to the habits and killing of seals. This Snigeroff testified 

 that lie had lived on the Pribilof Islands lor many years and knew the 

 distinctive eharacterist ics of both herds (Commander and Pribilof) and 

 their habits and that he removed from thence to Bering Island. He 

 pointed out that the two herds have several different characteristics and 

 stated that in his belief they do not intermingle. 



FilaretPrckopief(i&t"<?.,p.21G) : Prokopief is a nativeof Attu Island, 23 

 years of age, and the agent ami storekeeper at that place of the Alaska 

 Commercial Company. His occupation was that of hunter for sea-otter 

 and fox, but never for fur seal. This occupation he pursued until the 

 time when he was made agent. His hunting ground was Attu, Agattu, 

 and the Semichi Islands. This is his testimony: 



