FUR-SEAL HEED OF ALASKA. 



233 



Lembkey swears it is impossi- 

 ble to measure a "green" sealskin. 



Mr. Madden. Would not a stretched 

 skin show that it had been stretched? 



Mr. Lembkey. No; the green skin, as a 

 matter of fact, is as pliable as a piece of 

 India rubber, and in throwing it down on 

 the ground it may curl up or stretch 

 lengthwise; it is so elusive in form it is 

 impossible for us to measure it; that is 

 the truth of the matter. 



Mr. McGiLLicuDDY. You say measure- 

 ment would not be reliable because it 

 miglit be stretched . Suppose you did not 

 stretch it, suppose you take it honestly, 

 then would it be, it lionestly taken, would 

 it be a test? 



Mr. Lembkey. I tried to make tliat 

 clear tcf the committee. 



The Chairman. That is a direct ques- 

 tion. Why do you not answer it? 



Mr. Lembkey. I am attempting to. It 

 is impossible; of course, all our actions ujj 

 there are honestly 



Mr. Madden (interposing). Answer the 

 question right straight. Do not try to ex- 

 plain it. 



Mr. Lembkey. 1 have attempted to 

 state that in measuring a green skin it is 

 impossible to fiJid out its e.xact length 

 when you lay it on tlie ground, be( ause it 

 may curl up, or roll, or stretch, and it can 

 only be measured after it has become 

 hardened by salt. 



Mr. McGiLLicuDDY. Then it will not 

 stretch? 



Mr. Lembkey. Certainly not. 



Mr. McGillicuddy. That is tlie proper 

 time to measure it, after it has become 

 rigid and stiff? 



Mr. Lembkey. Certainlv. (Hearing 

 No. 9, p. 399, Mar. 1, 1912.') 



But when under cross-examina- 

 tion he denies the statement. 



Mr. Elliott. Mr. Lembkey, you stated 

 to the committee that it was impossible to 

 measure a yearling skin, and therefore 

 you have never done it. 



Mr. Lembkey. I do not remember that. 



Mr. Elliott. Did you not say that? 



Mr. Lembkey. I stated that it was not 

 impossible to measure a green skin. I 

 said that I have never done it. 



Mr. Elliott. I have not seen your tes- 

 timony. Of course, I can not take you 

 up on it. 



Mr. Lembkey. You know you liave 

 seen my testimony, because I have seen 

 your notations in the report of the com- 

 mittee's hearings. 



The Chairman. Never mind about 

 that. Ask the question. 



Mr. Elliott. I have not read your tes- 

 timony; I onlv remember what vou said. 

 ('Hearing No. 9, p. 439, Apr. 13, "1912.) 



