THE DEPONENTS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE. 29 



Q. Are you a citizen of the United States? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. What State are you a resident of? — A. The State of California. 



William S. Hereford, having been duly sworn, deposes and says: I 

 am 39 years of age, and am a physician. I hold 

 the degree of B. S., Sauta Clara College, S. J., w. S. Hereford, p. 32. 

 year 1874, also a regular graduate of the medical 



department of the University of Pennsylvania, year 1877; am a regu- 

 lar practitioner of medicine and surgery. 



I entered the service of the Alaska Commercial Company, August, 

 1880, for the purpose of being one of the resident physicians on the 

 seal islands, and was continuously in their employ until May, 1890, at 

 which time I went into the employ of the North American Commercial 

 Company in the same capacity until the latter part of August, 1891, 

 having left by resignation. I was in the service of the Alaska Com- 

 mercial Company almost ten years and with the North American Com- 

 mercial Company about fifteen months, and had a total connection with 

 the seal islands a little over ten years. Seal and seal life being the 

 only and all-absorbing topic of conversation, business, food, etc., equally 

 with the natives as ourselves, one naturally becomes almost as familiar 

 with the fur-seals and their habits as a farmer would with those of the 

 cattle and horses on his farm, or a hunter of the animals by whom he 

 is surrounded in the woods, and by the killing of which he gains a live- 

 lihood, both as a means of sustenance and article of commerce. 



In my capacity of physician and surgeon to the sealing companies, 

 i. e., the Alaska Commercial Company and the North American Com- 

 mercial Company, I was stationed the first year, i. e., 1880 and 1881, at 

 St. George Island, and in 1881 and 1882 at Unalaska, at which time my 

 duties required me to sail from Unalaska to Attu, Belkofskie, Atka, 

 Unga, etc. I have been from Kadiak to Attu and have visited the 

 way places between those points. I have also in the same capacity 

 made three trips to St. Michaels, Norton Sound, one of which trips on 

 account of the ice carried me over on to the Kussian coast and as far 

 north as the Bering Straits. I have also visited St. Matthews Island, 

 though never having landed, passed by St. Lawrence Island, etc. 

 After 1882 I was at St. Paul Island, with the exception of my vacations 

 in San Francisco, Cal., until 1890 and 1891, when I was again plated 

 on St. George Island. My knowledge is from personal observation and 

 experience, as well as from conversation with the natives, having be- 

 come more or less intimately acquainted with the language spoken by 

 the natives of the islands. 



William Hermann, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am by 

 occupation a seal and otter hunter. My present 

 residence is in San Francisco. I have been en- Wm. Hermann, p. 445. 

 gaged in seal and otter hunting eleven years in 

 the Okhotsk Sea and the North Pacific. 



Emin Hertz, being duly sworn, deposes and says as follows: That 

 he is 42 years of age and a naturalized citizen of 

 the French Bepublic; that he lives in the city of Emin Hertz, p. 587. 

 Paris and is a member of the firm of Emin Hertz 



& Cie. ; that he has been engaged in the fur business for eighteen years, 

 during which time he has been in the habit of purchasing seal-skins; 

 that he has personally handled many thousands ot said fur-seal skins, 

 and that he has a general and detailed knowledge of the history of the 



