THE DEPONENTS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE. 49 



ness called ine frequently to the various portions of the island where the 

 seals were accustomed to congregate. I did not go to Alaska in 1873, 

 but in 1875 and again in 1876 I went north, spending both seasons on 

 St. Paul Island. I resigned my position with the Alaska Commercial 

 Company in the fall of 1876, but in the spring of 1877 I was appointed 

 to the position of Treasury agent at the seal islands (in charge), andeu- 

 tered upou the discharge of my official duties in May of that year. 

 During my residence on the island, which, so far as the sealing seasons 

 were concerned, practically covered a period of eight years (from 1870 

 to 1878 inclusive), I obtained a full knowledge of the sealing business 

 in its various branches, and became familiar with all of the ground oc- 

 cupied by the fur seals. 



I was at all times greatly interested in observing the movements and 

 habits of these animals and scarcely a day passed that I did not visit 

 one or more of the rookeries. During the seasons of 1877 and 1878, 

 while serving in the capacity of special Treasury agent, I devoted my 

 best attention and study to this subject. 



Moses, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am a native Mtnat 

 Indian, and reside at Pachenah Bay on Vancouver 

 Island, at Vancouver, British Columbia. I am Moses, p. 309. 

 50 years old, and am by occupation a hunter and 



fisherman, and have been so engaged for about thirty years. I have 

 sealed out from Neah Bay in the sealing schooner G. G. Perkins (that 

 was last year), and this year I am sealing on the schooner James G. 

 Swan. Formerly I sealed out of Pachenah Bay with my tribe in canoes. 

 We used to seal in the straits of San Juan de Fuca, and all along the 

 coast from the Columbia River to the upper end of Vancouver Island. 

 I am familiar with all the bays and inlets on the west coast of Vancou- 

 ver Island. 



Morris Moss, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I have resided in 

 British Columbia thirty years. Since 1880 have 

 made my home in Victoria, British Columbia. Morris Moss, p. 341. 

 My occupation is that of purchasing raw furs. Of 



late years raw fur-seal skins have been the principal furs handled by 

 me. I have bought from 10,000 to 20,000 per year, and am vice- 

 president of the Sealers' Association of Victoria, British Columbia. 



Jacob H. Moulton, of Bowdoinham, Me., being duly sworn, deposes 

 and says : I am 56 years of age, and my occupa- 

 tion is farming. From 1877 to 1885 I was first j. h. Moulton, p. 71. 

 assistant Treasury agent on the seal islands. I 



arrived on St. George Island May 21, 1877, and left the islands in the 

 fall of 1881. I spent four summers on St. George Island, and one 

 winter, from 1877 to 1881, and four summers and four winters on St. 

 Paul Island, from 1881 to 1881. Each season I made careful examina- 

 tion of the rookeries on the island where I then was located, in con- 

 nection with my official duties, and I a_.» made some study of the life 

 and habits of the seal. 



I, Peter C. Muller, a resident of Afognak, being duly sworn, depose 

 and say: That I have been in Alaska eight years. 

 My occupation is hunter. I am captain of a p. c. Muller, p. 223. 

 hunting schooner. 

 IBS 



