REPORT OF AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS. 335 



and other points was not given under oath, its The great de- 

 crease. 

 value, in our judgment, is not in the least lessened 



by that fact. In nearly all cases the witneses 

 were examined separately. No 'leading ques- 

 tions' were asked, and especial care was taken 

 to prevent the examination from indicating in 

 anyway what was desired to be proved. Full 

 notes of answers and statements were made, and 

 in all cases of special importance the question was 

 repeated and the answer read in order to be sure 

 that the opinion of the witness had been properly 

 given. In short, the investigation was conducted 

 precisely as it would have been had the question 

 been one of scientific rather than diplomatic 

 importance. 



A few extracts from the evidence relating- to^ Extracts from 



o testimony taken. 



diminution in numbers will indicate its general 

 character. 



Anton Melovedoff, native of the island of St« 

 Paul. His father had been chief of the natives 

 on the island, and he had served in the same 

 capacity until recently, when he had been deposed 

 because, as he himself expressed it, he was "work- 

 ing in the interests of the Company rather than 

 that of the Government." 



In his opinion the number of seals had greatly 

 diminished during the last few years. 



Dr. A, A. Lntz, physician on the island of St. 



