304 CAUSE. 



We can care for and protect the mature seals as well as the cattle 



<»n the ranges are cared for and protected, and if 



S. Melovidov, p. 147. they could be guarded from the hunters in the 



sea we could by good management again make 



the rookeries as large as before. 



Naturally the cause of this diminution was a matter of interest and 

 inquiry. Itwasnot evident that it was from causes 

 T. F. Morgan, p. 64. incident to the taking of seals upon the island. 

 The greatest care was exercised in the driving; 

 under precisely similar conditions the herd had increased in former 

 years; the number of skins originally apportioned to St. George Island 

 was reduced at an early date, and only increased in proportion to 

 the rookeries' expansion. No disturbance of the rookeries was per- 

 mitted, even the presence of dogs and use of firearms being prohibited 

 during the presence of the seals. 



The management of the rookeries the first fifteen years of the Alaska 

 Commercial Company's lease resulted in a large 

 Leon Slos8, p. 91. increase of seals. The same business manage- 



ment continued, and the same system was pursued 

 to the end of the term, yet in the last five years the rookeries fell off. 

 Clearly it was through no fault of the company, and resulted from some 

 cause beyond their control. I do not think the Alaska Commercial 

 Company made any mistakes in managing the seal herd. They handled 

 them in every respect as I would have done if they had been my own 

 personal property, and as I would do if they were now to come into my 

 hands. If they erred in any particular in their management, it was in 

 their futile attempt in 1888 and 1889 to stop the waste of seal life at the 

 island spigot while it was running out at thebunghole of pelagic scaling. 

 The record shows that we did not finish the catch as early in 1^<~> as 

 had been done in former years. I do not think this was from any lack 

 of seals, but was caused by greater care in making our selection of ani- 

 mals to be killed. 



I again visited St. Paul Island and remained there several days in 

 the summer of 1885, but saw no evidence then, or 



Geo.R. Temple,p. 154. when formerly on the island, to lead me to think 

 that the lessees were damaging the rookeries, or 

 doing anything different from what a judicious regard for the future of 

 the industry would dictate. 



In giving this evidence I am as free from prejudice as is possible when 

 entertaining, as I do, a feeling that the late lessees treated me in some 

 measure unjustly, nor have I any interest whatever in the seals or the 

 products of the sealeries. 



EXCESSIVE KILLING THE ADMITTED CAUSE. 



Page 176 of The Case. 



We find that since the Alaska purchase a marked diminution in 

 the number of scads on and habitually resorting 



Thtcam P0>% P ' 3 ° y '" (() tlie Pribilof Elands has taken place; that it 

 has been cumulative in effect, and that it is the 

 result of excessive killing by man. 



