FUR-SEAL HERD OF ALASKA. 



16' 



Islands, the blue foxes, and other animal 

 resources on the islands, and the Govern- 

 ment's relations to the natives and the 

 lessees. On January 13, 1909, the Secre- 

 tary, on the recommendation of the com- 

 missioner, appointed an advisory board 

 for the fur-seal service, consisting of Dr. 

 David Starr Jordan, Dr. Leonard Stej- 

 neger, Dr. G. Hart Merriam, Mr. Frederic 

 A. Lucas, Hon. Edwin W. Sims, Hon, 

 Frank H. Hitchcock, and Mr. <'harles H. 

 Townsend. The Government is thus 

 enabled to avail itself of the expert knowl- 

 edge possessed by these naturalists and 

 officials, who, through visits to the seal 

 islands and through previous dutj^ on 

 fur-seal commissions or in the adminis- 

 tration of the fur-seal service, are familiar 

 with the problems involved in the man- 

 agement of the seal herd and the seal 

 islands. (Hearing No. 2, p. 78, June 9, 

 1911.) 



Stejneger swears that pups are 

 naturally trampled to death by 

 the bulls, but — 



Mr. McGuiRE. According to your ob- 

 servation, now, Doctor, if those herds 

 were left alone untouched by man, what 

 would you regard as the principal agencies 

 of destruction of that animal life? 



Dr. Stejneger. The principal destruc- 

 tion would probably be the killing or the 

 death of the old by natural causes. 



Mr. McGuiRE. Would you regard that 

 as about the second most destructive 

 agency? 



Dr. Stejneger. I should think that if 

 they were left and had been left for some 

 time by themselves it would be the fight- 

 ing of the males. 



Mr. McGuiRE. The fighting of the 

 males and trampling of the pups? 



Dr. Stejneger. Ughting of the males 

 and trampling of the pu]is . 



Mr. McGuiRE. Then, where they were 

 left untouched until they had accumu- 

 lated large numbers of males, would 

 there have been trampling under those 

 conditions? 



Dr. Stejneger. That is the greatest 

 danger to the herd. 



Mr. McGuiRE. Now, your testimony 

 with respect to the killing of the pups by 

 the fighting of battles by the males is 

 based upon not only your general infor- 

 mation, that you have been able to ob- 

 tain in general way, but as well upon 

 two years' actual stay upon seal islands? 



Dr. Stejneger. Yes, sir. 



Dr. Stejneger. Of a yearling seal? I 

 do not know; I have never seen a yearling 

 seal killed on the American islands. 



Mr. Elliott. Were you in consulation 

 with Mr. Bowers when he ordered the 

 killing of 12,920 seals on the seal islands 

 in 1910? 



Dr. Stejneger. Do you mean in per- 

 .«onal special consultation with Mr. Bow- 

 ers? 



Mr. Elliott. Did Mr. Bowers — — 



Dr. Stejneger. Not outside of what I 

 have said in the board. 



Mr. Elliott. No, no. I asked you, 

 did Mr. Bowers advise with you? 



Dr. Stejneger. Personally? 



Mr. Elliott. Not when he issued hia 

 order to kill 12,920 seals in 1910? 



Dr. Stejneger. I do not quite under- 

 stand whether it was with me personally 

 or as a member of the board. 



Mr. Elliott. Well, as a member of the 

 board, do you remember any consultation 

 with him about issuing those orders? 



Dr. Stejneger. No; I do not remem- 

 ber. (Hearing No. 11, pp, 679, 681, May 4, 

 1911.) 



Lucas svv'ears that pups are not 

 trampled to death by the bulls: 



Mr. Elliott. How many days were }ou 

 on the islands in 1896? I want that 

 answered . 



Dr. Lucas. On the islands and at sea 

 on the Rush, going to and from St. Paul 

 and St. George 



Mr. Elliott. That is not my question, 

 sir. 



Dr. Lucas. I will have to figure it up 

 if you want the exact number of days. 



Mr. Elliott. Then you don't know? 



Dr. Lucas. I can find that out. I have 

 it on record here. 



The Chairman. About how many 

 days? 



Dr. Lucas. About 50 days in 1896. 

 allowing about 9 days' time spent at sea 

 going to and from one island to another. 



Mr. Elliott. In 1897 how many days 

 were you on the islands? 



Dr. Lucas. About 42 days. 



Mr. Elliott. On the islands? 



Dr. Lucas. That is about the number. 

 I have the exact data right here. 



Mr. Elliott. Now, Dr. Lucas, did you 

 see up there a pu]) trampled to death by 

 a bull? 



Dr. Lucas. No. (Hearing No. 12. p. 

 719, May 16, 1912.) 



