FUR-SEAL HERD OF ALASKA. 



165 



Qothing; we just recommended. We 

 gave our opinion on certain points and 

 recommended it; that is all. 



The Chairman. Did you put that in 

 writing and send it to the Secretary? 



Dr. Stejneger. I think there was un- 

 doubtedly a letter at that time. 



The Chairman. Was it your opinion 

 that the further leasing of the islands 

 would not be for the best interests of the 

 Government? 



Dr. Stejneger. Most decidedly. 

 (Hearing No. 11, pp. 675, 676, May 4, 

 1912.) 



Stejneger says Hitchcqck 

 agreed with hini in opposition to 

 the "Hitchcock rules" issue: 



Mr. Elliott. One more question: When 

 Chief Clerk Hitchcock, of the Department 

 of Commerce and Labor, was preparing 

 the "Hitchcock rules," putting a check 

 on this killing of all those seals whicli you 



Department of 

 Commerce and Labor, 



Bureau of Fisheries, 

 Washington, Deremhcr 16, 19U0 . 

 The Commissioner: 



The Washington Star of Deceml)er 10 

 last announced that the Campfire Club, 

 of New York, had inaugurated a cam- 

 paign to save the fur-seal herd through 

 legislation designed to prevent the re- 

 leasing of the sealing right, the cessation 

 of all killing on the islands for 10 years 

 except for natives' food, and to secure 

 the opening of negotiations with Great 

 Britain to revise the regulations of the 

 Paris tribunal. As the result of this 

 movement, on December 7 three resolu- 

 tions were introduced by Senator Dixon, 

 of Montana, one of which embodies the 

 provisions before mentioned, the other 

 two calling for the publication of fur-seal 

 correspondence and rej>orts .since 1904. 



As the object of this movement is at 

 variance with the program of this bureau 

 and of the recommendations of the ad- 

 vi.sory fur-seal board, uotably in the plan 

 to prevent killing and the renewal of the 

 seal island lease, the advisability is sug- 

 gested of having Messrs. Townsend. Lu- 

 cas, and Stanley-Brown use their influ- 

 ence with such members of the Campfire 

 Club as they may be acquainted with 

 with the object of correctly informing the 

 club as to the exact present status of the 

 seal question and of securing its coopera- 

 tion to effect the adoption of the measures 

 advocated by this bureau. 



The attached letter is prepared, having 

 in view the object stated. 



Barton W. Evermann. 



Exhibit No. 7, being the ofi^cial letter 

 of "George M. Bowers, commissioner," 

 to Secretary Commerce and LaVjor, dated 

 Febniary 8, 1910, inclosing copies of three 

 letters, all urging renewal of the seal lease 

 and giving the reasons of the writers for 

 such renewal, to wit. H. H. Taylor, 

 president N. xV. C. Co. (lessees), dated 

 January 27, 1910; C. H. Townsend, for 

 "fur-seal advisory board." dated January 

 31. 1910; Alfred Eraser. London agent for 

 the N. A. C. Co. (lessees), January 28, 

 1910, as follows. (Hearing No. 3, pp. 

 152-157, July 6, 1911.) 



Sworn proof submitted that 

 Hitchcock issued the rules in op- 

 position to Stejnegor's wish: 



Mr. Elliott. He did? Right there I 

 want to ask you about tliis: On j)age 53 of 

 "Hearing oii Fur Seals," Marcli 10, 1904, 

 Ways and Means Committee, House of 

 Repre.-^entatives, Mr. iPitchcock, under 



