108 



FUR-SEAL HERD OF ALASKA. 



(Appendix A, p. 533, House Committee on Expenditures in the Department of 

 Commerce and Labor, June 24, 1911.) 



THE DEADLY PARALLEL. 



LernVkey says the S-year-olds 

 and other hoUuschickie are not 

 driven out from shelter of the breed- 

 ing cows. 



Chief Special Agent Lembkey: 



"Furthermore, the 3-year-olds, having 

 passed the age of puberty, are not found 

 on the hauling grounds during the fall, 

 but are hauled among the cows on the 

 rookeries when they can not be driven. 

 This is an additional safeguard against 

 their killing, and of itself would disprove 

 any allegation that these marked seals are 

 subsequently killed." (Report, Dec. 14, 

 1906, S. Doc. 376, p. 13, 60th Cong, 1st 

 sess.) 



But his assistant tells him that 

 they are so "pulled out from among 

 the cows." 



Assistant Agent James Judge: 



"Seals. — Four hundred and fifty-eight 

 seals of the quota of 500 allowed the na- 

 tives of this island for food were obtained. 

 The first drive was made on October 19, 

 from Staraya Artel, and 220 seals were 

 killed; 209 small, sixty-five 3-year-olds, 

 five 4-year-olds, six 5-year-olds, two 

 6-year-olds, and 4 branded were turned 

 away. Three other drives were made as 

 follows: October 31, Staraya Artel rook- 

 ery, 148 seals were killed; twelve 3-year- 

 olds released; November 9, Staraya Artel 

 and North, 44 seals killed; November 16, 

 North rookery, 25 seals killed; October 20 

 to November 10, Zapadni Guards, 21 seals 

 killed. 



"The last three drives were made up 

 entirely of seals pulled out from among 

 the cows by the natives, and as very care- 

 ful selection had taken place on the rook- 

 ery verv few were turned awav from the 

 killing field." (Report June 3, 1907, S. 

 Doc. 376, p. 105. 60th Cong., 1st sess.) 



And in final and complete proof of this guilty knowledge possessed 

 by Liebes, Lembkey, Evermann, and Bowers, as lessees and officials, 

 that these "reserved" seals were being taken in violation of regula- 

 tions, the deadly parallel is drawn upon them, thus: 



Lembkey declares that the reg- 

 ulations " order no food sMns taJt'en 

 over 6^ pounds" ; and that he faith- 

 fully obeys them: 



Mr. Lembkey: 



Notwithstanding repeated allegations to 

 the contrary, the regulations of the depart- 

 ment/ully protect the breeding herd and these 

 regulations are carefully and thoroughly 

 observed. They require that no female or 

 marked male should be killed, and no male 

 seal having a pelt weighing less than 5 or 

 more than 8^ pounds. During the food 

 killing season of the fall and spring seals 

 having skins weighing over 6k pounds or 

 under 5 pounds may not be taken, this 

 extra limitation being enforced to prevent 

 the killing of those males marked for breeding 

 purposes after the new hair has grown in and 

 obliterated the mark which is placed upon 

 their hides at the beginning of the season. 



But Evermann furnishes the 

 committee with copies of these 

 regulations wliich order " no food 

 sJcins taken over 8^ pounds" — 

 and thus confessing the deceit of 

 Lembkey! (and himself also). 

 Dr. Evermann: 



I wish to call particular attention to 

 these paragraphs of the instructions re- 

 garding reservations to be made: 



[Instructions issued Mar. 9, 1906.] 



Sec. 8. Sizes of killable seals. — No seals 

 shall be killed ha ving skins weighing less than 

 5 pounds nor more than 8^ pounds. Skins 

 weighing more than 8J pounds shall not be 

 shipped from the islands, but shall be held 

 there subject to such instructions as may 

 be furnished you hereafter by the depart- 

 ment. Skins weighing less than 5 pounds 

 shall not be shipped from the islands, un- 

 less, in your judgment, the number thereof 



