4 THE DEPONENTS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE. 



well acquainted with the methods adopted by the Russian and Ameri- 

 can Governments in taking of fur-seal skins and in protecting and pre- 

 serving the herds on the island. In 1870, when the Alaska Commercial 

 Company obtained the lease of the islands, I was made chief, and held 

 the position for seventeen years. 



It was my duty as chief to take charge of and conduct the drives 

 with my people from the hauling to the killing grounds. 



Atenas Koo, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am an old man. 



Was born in Yakutat and am a member of the 

 Atonas-Koo, p. 237. Yakutat tribe of Indians. I have hunted all my 



life. 



Charles Avery, a resident of St. Paul, Kadiak, Alaska, being duly 

 sworn, deposed and said: I am captain of a seal- 



Chas. Avery, p. 218. iug schooner; have been six years in Alaska; have 

 been hunting seals three years. 



Adam Ayonkee, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am about 60 

 years old ; born at and reside in Sitka. Am by oc- 

 Adam Ayonkee, p. 2r>5. cupation a hunter. Hunt seal in summer and deer 

 in winter ever since I was a small boy. 



Q. What is your name, age, residence, and occupation? — A. My 

 name is George Ball; age, 42; residence at pres- 



Geo. Ball, p. 481. ent, San Francisco, Cal. ; occupation, master and 



hunter of seals. 



Q. Are you a citizen of the United States? — A, 1 am. 



Q. What State are you a resident of? — A. I am a native of Connect- 

 icut and a resident of California for the last twenty-seven years. 



Q. Have you been engaged in catching seals in the Pacific and Ber- 

 ing Sea, and for how long? — A. I have been engaged in sealing in the 

 Pacific and Bering Sea off and on for a number of years past; constantly 

 during the sealing season for the last few years. 



George Bantle, having been duly sworn, deposes and says: My age 



is 53. I reside in San Francisco. I am a packer 



Geo. Bantle, p. 508. and sorter of raw fur skins, and have been engaged 



in that occupation for the last twenty years. My 



calling has made me a judge of raw seal skins, as I have handled 



in the last ten or twelve years from 10,000 to 15,000 annually. I can 



tell by examining a skin whether it was caught in season, and whether 



it was caught on the Russian side or on the American side. 



I, Milton Barnes, being duly sworn according to law, depose and say 

 as follows: I am a citizen of the United States, 

 Milton Barnes, p. 101. and when at home reside near Columbus, Ohio. 

 Have been temporarily stationed during the last 

 year on the Island of St. Paul, one of the fur-seal or Pribilof Group in 

 Bering Sea, as a special employe" of the United States Treasury Depart- 

 ment on said island. 



Johnny Baronovitch, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I was 



born at Kasan and have lived here all my life. 



Johnny Baronovitch, p. My business is that of hunting and fishing. 



Have hunted fur-seal in a canoe in May off the 



Prince of Wales Island. 



