THE DEPONENTS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE. 59 



fleet of vessels when it was expected to establish a telegraph line to 

 Europe via Bering" Straits. In this capacity and later as commander 

 of vessels under the United States revenue-cutter flag, I repeatedly 

 passed through Bering Sea, touching at the seal islands. I am the 

 author of the work entitled "The Marine Mammals of the Northwest- 

 ern Coast of North America," published by J. H. Carina ny & Co., San 

 Francisco, 1874. In preparing Chapter iv of part 2 of that work, rel- 

 ative to fur-seals, I consulted every accessible authority upon that 

 subject and added the result of my own observation and experience. 

 Since then eighteen years have elapsed and many new facts have been 

 brought to light concerning them, confirming for the most part what 

 was then written, yet modifying to some extent the conclusions ar- 

 rived at. 



Schkatatin, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I was born in 

 Yakutat and I have lived there all my life. I be- 

 long to the Yakutat tribe of Indians and am now Schkatatin. p. 243. 

 a very old man ; am by occupation a hunter. Yes ; 



I have killed fur-seal. I used the bow and arrow for killing them. 

 * * * I have traveled from Icy Bay to Nuchuk and back along the 

 coast as far east as Lityu Bay. 



Benjamin F. Scribner, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am GO 

 years of age, and a pharmacist by profession. My 

 residence is New Albany, Ind. In July, 1878, I b. f. Scribner,p. 89. 

 was appointed assistant Treasury agent for the 



seal islands, and arrived on said islands in May, 1879. I landed at St. 

 George Island and remained there continuously until August, 1880, ex- 

 cept a part of the season of 1880 I spent on St. Paul Island. During 

 this time I made a careful study of seal life in connection with my offi- 

 cial duties, and also for my own satisfaction. 



L. G. Shepard, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 45 years of 

 age; a resident of Washington, 1). C, and am 

 captain in the U. S. Bevenue Marine Service, chief l. G. Shepard, p. 187. 

 of division Revenue Marine, Treasury Depart- 

 ment. In command of the revenue steamer Bush, I made three cruises 

 to Bering Sea in the years 1887, 1888, and 1889, for the purpose of en- 

 forcing existing law for protection of seal life in Alaska and the waters 

 thereof, and also to protect other Government interests in Alaska. . 



William Short, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 20 years 

 old and reside at Victoria, British Columbia, and 

 am by occupation a painter. On January 14, William Short, p. 348. 



1890, I sailed as a boat-puller, from Victoria, B. 



C, on the British sealing schooner Maggie Mac. * * * In July, 



1891, I sailed out of the port of Victoria, B. C, as a hunter on the Brit- 

 ish sealing schooner Otto. 



Showoosch, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I was born at 

 Sitka; am a very old man, and I belong to the 

 Yakutat tribe of Indians ; have been a hunter Showoosch, p. 243. 

 all my life, hunting sea-otter and seal in the sum- 

 mer and bear and fox in the winter. When I was a young man I killed 

 fur-seal oft Yakutat Bay, using a spear altogether. 1 haven't killed any 

 seal lately. 



