6 THE DEPONENTS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE. 



Martin Benson, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I have been en- 

 gaged in sealing live years, as master of the 

 Martin Benson, p. 405. James Q. Swan and the Leo in Bering Sea and 

 North Pacific Ocean. 



H. 3. Bevington, M. A., being duly sworn, doth depose and say: That 

 he is 40 years of age,and a subjeetoi Her Britannic 

 H.S. Bevington, p. 551. Majesty, and is the head of the firm of Bevington 

 & Morris, doing business as fur merchants and 

 manufacturers at 28 Canon street, in the city of London. That his 

 said firm was founded in the year 1726, and has been continued in the 

 same family during the whole of these years down to the present time, 

 and has been engaged during the whole of the period since 1720 in the 

 same business, dealing in furs andleather. That deponent has been in 

 the business ever since the year 1873. During the whole of the period since 

 that date his said firm have been in the habit of buying fur-seal skins, 

 and he knows from his general knowledge of the business that prior to 

 that time they were in the habit of buying seal skins ever since they 

 became an article of commerce. That deponent has personally handled 

 many thousands of skins of the fur seal, and by reason of that fact and 

 of his experience in his business has a general knowledge of the history 

 of the fur-seal, skin business, and a general and precise knowledge of 

 the several kinds of skins which now, and for many years last past, 

 have come upon the London market. 



John G. Blair, of San Francisco, having been duly sworn, deposes 

 and says: I am 5< years old, and an American 



J. a. Blair, p. 193. citizen, and am now and have been for the past 

 fourteen years, until recently, master of the 

 schooner Leon, formerly in the service of Hutchinson, Cole, Philipeus 

 & Co., and now employed by the Russian Seal-skin Company. During 

 all this time I have been constantly engaged in the fur-sealing industry, 

 and am familar with the habits of these animals both on the land and 

 in the water. I was in charge of and attended to the killing of seals 

 upon Robben Island for the lessees from 1878 to 1885, inclusive, taking 

 from 1,000 to 4,000 seals per annum in each of these years for their 

 skins, and have visited the islands in the Leon every year except two 

 since 1885 to the present date. During the two years excepted I was 

 sealing on the Commander Islands. 



Bernhardt Bleidner, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I reside 



at Victoria, British Columbia; am 32 years of age; 



Bernhardt Bleidner,p. 314.my occupation, seaman. In 18S7 I shipped on the 



schooner Challenge, Jones, master, as boat puller. 



* * * In January, 1889, I again shipped from Victoria, British 



Columbia, in the schooner Walter Rich, Siewart, master. 



Niels Bonde, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 24 years ox 



age; residence, Victoria, British Columbia; oc 



Niels Bonde, p. 315. cupation, seaman. I went sealing as deck hand 



in tlie British schooner Kate, Capt. Moss, master, 



in 1887. * * * In 1888 I left Victoria on the 11th of April as mate 



and interpreter on the British schooner Araiinah, H. F. Siewart, 



master. * * * I left Victoria on the 28th of May, 1889, in the 



British schooner Kate as dec k hand. * * * In 1890 I left Victoria 



