THE DEPONENTS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE. 69 



Francis Verbeke, being first duly sworn, deposes and says that lie 

 is a Roman Catholic priest, in charge of Roman 

 Catholic mission in village of Chapies, on Todgers Francis Verbeke, p. 311. 

 Cove. He has resided in Chapies four winters. 



Charles T. Wagner, being duly sworn, deposes and says: lam a citi- 

 zen of the United States, over 21 years of age, a 

 resident of Sanak, in the Aleutian Group, and Chas. T. Wagner, p. 211. 

 am employed by the Alaska Commercial Company 



as their agent in the purchase of furs and in supplying the natives with 

 food and clothing. 



I was first employed by the Government as deputy collector of cus- 

 toms at Unalaska for nearly three years, from 1871 to 1873, since which 

 time I have been in the employ of the company. 



During the twenty years which I have been stationed in various 

 trading posts in the Bering Sea, I became conversant with the general 

 question pertaining to the fur-sealing industry in those waters, having 

 bought seal-skins both from natives and from hunting vessels. 



I never have been employed by the present lessees of the seal islands. 



Rudolph Walton, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 25 years 

 of age; born at Sitka; am at present on the police 



force; have hunted seal three seasons, 1889, 1890, Rudolph Walton, p. 272. 

 and 1891, around Biorka Island. 



Charlie Wank, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am 30 years 

 old ; was born at and reside at Sitka; am by occu- 

 pation a seal-hunter; have been catching seal Charlie Wank, p. 273. 

 most all my life. 



George Wardman, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, being duly sworn, de- 

 poses and says : I am 50 years of age, and editor of 

 the Pittsburg Press. In 1879, as a journalist, I George Wardman, p.m. 

 made a trip to Alaska on the United States rev- 

 enue steamer Bush, during her summer cruise. On that trip I stop- 

 ped at many points along the northwest coast, the Alaska coast, and 

 the Aleutian chain, and also visited the Pribilof Islands and St. Mi- 

 chael, going as far north as Bering Straits. On April 4, 1881, I was 

 appointed assistant special Treasury agent for the seal islands, and 

 immediately after such appointment proceeded to San Francisco and 

 sailed for the islands, arriving there in the latter part of May. I was 

 then detailed by Colonel Otis, special Treasury agent for the seal 

 islands, to the island of St. George, and until May 29, 1885, I remained 

 in charge of that island. Daring that time I returned but twice to the 

 United States. I made careful examination of the rookeries each year, 

 and after the first year I compared my yearly observations, so that I 

 might arrive at some conclusion as to whether it was possible and ex- 

 pedient to increase our portion of the quota of skins to be taken on St. 

 George Island without injuriously affecting seal life there. 



M. L. Washburn, having been duly sworn, deposes and says : I re- 

 side at West Randolph, Vt., but spend most of 

 my time on the south shores of Alaska. My oc- m. L. Washburn, p. 488. 

 cupation is that of a fur-dealer. I have been in 



