18 THE DEPONENTS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE. 



ing in the North Pacific and Bering Sea. I went to the seal islands in 

 Bering Sea over twenty years ago, and have been there many times 

 subsequently while in the employment of the Government. From 1882 

 to 1888 I cruised consecutively in Bering Sea as pilot on the revenue 

 cutters Rush and Coricin, and was often on the seal islands, our vessel 

 being frequently anchored offshore in the adjacent waters. I had 

 abundant opportunity and leisure to watch the habits of the fur-seals, 

 both on the Pribolof Islands and in the waters of the Northwest Pacific 

 Ocean and Bering Sea. * * * I am familiar with the area and 

 topography of the various rookeries on the islands. 



John Duff, being duly sworn, deposes and saith: I reside at Coal 

 Point, on Kachemak Bay, Cook's Inlet, Alaska, 

 John Duff, p. 227. and have lived in the Territory for the last five 



years. I am the agent for the Cooper Coal and 

 Commercial Company at this place, and have no personal knowledge of 

 fur-seal life. * * * I have traveled extensively through the Terri- 

 tory from Sitka to the Yukon Kiver. 



Peter Duffy, having been duly sworn, deposes and says: I am, by 

 occupation, a seaman. I reside in San Francisco. 

 Peter Duffy, p. 421. I was in the Bering Sea in 1881 and 1885 on board 

 the Sea Otter, of which Capt. Williams was mas- 

 ter. I was a boat puller. 



William Duncan, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am GO years 



of age; I have resided in British Columbia thirty 



William Duncan, p. 279. years and at New Metlakahtla five years, and 



have always been with the Tsimshean Indians, 



both in British Columbia and Alaska. The Tsimsheans are great 



hunters of fur-seal. 



Echon, being duly sworn, deposes and says: Am about 50 years old 



and was born at Shakan. Have lived there all 



Echon, p. 279. my life. Am a hunter by occupation. Have 



hunted seal in the summer time and land game 



in the winter. Have hunted seal off Prince of Wales Island in the 



spring. 



Ellabush, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am about 30 years 



of age, and am a native Makah Indian, and reside 



Ellabush, p. 385. on the Neah Bay Reservation, in the county of 



Clallam, State of Washington, United States of 



America. I commenced sealing in canoes along the coast and in the 



Straits of San Juan de Fuca about fifteen years ago, and have always 



hunted seals with spears until recently. * * * About two years 



ago I began to hunt with guns. 



M. C. Erskine, having been duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 55 

 years of age. I reside in San Francisco. I am a 

 M. C. Erskine, p. 421. master mariner by occupation. I have been going 

 to the Bering Sea twenty-four years. I went first 

 to the seal islands in April, 1808, and have been going there ever since, 

 visiting the islands every year until 1800. I have been cruising along 

 the coast from here to the Aleutian Islands, and have had an oppor- 

 tunity of ascertaining the habits of the seals. * * * I have been 



