248 PROTECTION AND PRESERV ANION. 



oi.ini(nis of in-]ierd from year to year make them fully compe- 

 tent to give an opinion of value and weight. 

 Alfred Irving, a Makah Indian hunter, says: "If 

 they keep on killino- them with guns there will 

 be none left in a little while.^ Selwish Johnson, 

 of the same tribe, says: "If hunted with guns 

 they will all soon be destroyed."^ Gonastut, an 

 Indian belonging to the Yakutat tribe, after stat- 

 ing that seals are becoming very scarce, gives as 

 a reason that too many schooners are hunting 

 them, adding " Seals w^IU soon be no more unless 

 the Great Father stops the schooners from hunt- 

 ing."^ And a great many more Indians make 



like statements.* 

 Opinions of Other witnesses, who are thorouodily familiar 



oMicr witnesses. ■ 



with the habits and nature of the Alaskan fur 

 seals, or who have had ample opportunity to ex- 

 amine the constant decrease and compare it with 

 the known facts and figures of pelagic sealing 

 and its increase, give like opinions as to the need 

 of protection if the seals are to be preserved.^ 

 Mr. Maxwell Cohen says: "After twenty-two 

 years' experience in Alaska in the fur business, I 



1 Vol. II, p. 387. 



*Vol. II, p. 389. 



3 Vol. II, p. 238. 



■< Peter Browu, Vol. II, p. 378; Tliomas Zolnoks, Vol. II, p. 399; 

 Cliiirlos Martin, Vol. II, p. 297. 



sSamnel Falconer, Vol.11, p. 162; M. A. Healy, Vol. II, p. 28; A. 

 P. Lond, Vol. ir,.p. 39; H. G. Otis, Vol. II, p. 88; Wni. H. Wil- 

 liams, Vol. II, p. 94; Aggie Knsliin, Vol. II, p. 130; C. M. Scam- 

 nion, Vol. II, pp. 475, 476. 



