PUR-SEAL HEED OF ALASKA. 133 



made clear more than one point. He particularly thanked Mr. Charles Townsend, 

 who, by his works and his scientific knowledge, greatly facilitated the task of the 

 arbitrator. He thanked the secretaries also. 

 The session adjourned at 11 o'clock. 



This evidence supplied to the committee by Dr. Townsend himself, 

 of his work at The Hague, makes it perfectly clear that he personally 

 knew of the fact that Liebes owned the James Hamilton Lewis, 

 and that as such she was illegally operating, with Liebes holding the 

 lease of the Seal Islands. He also admits knowledge as early as 

 1897, at the latest, of ''123 sealing vessels" and their masters. He 

 could not have failed to know of the James Hamilton Lewis and the 

 lessees' ownership of her, or of the fact that Alexander McLean was 

 her master, and a British pirate; all of this must have been well 

 known to him by 1897, for he says so, to the committee, on page 

 754, No. 12. 



What was the interest, after all, which drew Dr. Townsend into 

 making this false showing for the James Hamilton Lewis at The Hague ? 

 He denies receiving any money from Liebes thus (p. 819, Hearing 13) : 



Mr. McGiLLicuDDY. How large was your compensation from Isaac Liebes for your 

 services as an expert at The Hague, June and July, 1902, in getting this award of 

 $50,000 for the owners, master, and crew of the James H. Lewis? 



Dr. Townsend. I was paid by the Fish Commission. 



Mr. McGiLLicuDDY. What was your compensation? 



Dr. Townsend. I was not paid by Liebes at all. 



At this point the committee fuids that Dr. Townsend has been paid 

 by Liebes one sum of $186.57 for "services as a sealing expert," etc. 

 (See p. 861, Hearing No. 13.) This sum he declares was not received 

 from Liebes "at all." But the official record of its payment denies 

 him. Was that all he received? Note the following: 



On May 20th, 1902, and before Dr. Townsend started for The 

 Hague with Thu'd Assistant Secretary of State Pierce from Wash- 

 ington, D. C, Liebes's agent, George R. Tingle, who had secured the 

 detail by George M. Bowers, United States Fish Commissioner, of 

 Townsend for service in re James Hamilton Lewis claim, addressed a 

 letter to the Secretary of State, in which he asked that Townsend be 

 permitted to receive his "expenses and fees" for services as "sealing 

 expert," out of any award that he, Townsend, should secure for the 

 Lewis claimants at The Hague. Tingle makes the same request in 

 this letter for the services of H. H. D. Pierce as "counsel" for the 

 Lewis claimants. That this letter should have been written without 

 the knowledge or consent of Dr. Townsend or Mr. Pierce is simply an 

 idle assumption. This is the letter which declares the interest that 

 both Townsend and Pierce had in this claim, as being for "expenses 

 and fees" in return for the services to Liebes. (Equitv Suit No. 

 23,886: H. H. D. Pierce v. Liebes, Tingle, et al., April ■7th, 1903; 

 docket of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.) 



Washington, D. C, May 20, 1902. 

 Mr. Secretary: In view of the request of the arbitrator that experts in whaling 

 and sealing be sent to give expert opinions in the arbitration at The Hague and the 

 importance of having the Hon. H. H. D. Peirce, counsel for the Government, present 

 at the hearing, I have the honor to request on behalf of the claimants for the seizure 

 of the Jame.s Hamilton Lewis that all expenses of such experts, and of Mr. Peirce as 

 counsel, in making the journey to The Hague and return, be paid and charged pro" 

 rata to the claimants, such expenses to be deducted from the award allowed by the 

 arbitrator and paid by the Russian Government. 



