SEAL LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 175 



tain white men concerning the subject of sealing at sea. The depositions 

 were taken in Victoria IVom ship captains, seamen, boat pullers and 

 steerers, seal hunters, and others interested in sealing, among them the 

 vice-president of the Sealers' Association. All depositions were taken 

 and verified before the United States consul, Myers, at Victoria. This 

 was the only place in which I took depositions in British Columbia. In 

 no instance was any liquor given by me to an affiant; nor was any affiant 

 under the influence of liquor when his deposition was made or verified; 

 and no undue influence of any sort or description was employed. Xo 

 gratuities were given. The testimony obtained was, in all instances, 

 not only given freely and willingly, but often voluntarily. The usual 

 witness fees (in this case ranging from -SI to $3) were paid, and only in 

 three instances was the latter sum given, the usual price being $2. 



WM. H. WILLIAMS. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2()th day of December, 1892. 

 [SEAL.] CHAS. S. HUGHES, Notary Public. 



Deposition of Joseph Murray. 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 



City of W&xKington, ss : 



Personally appeared before me Joseph Murray, who, being duly sworn, 

 deposes and says: 1 reside at Fort Collins, Colo.; I am 50 years of age, 

 and am the first assistant Treasury agent at the Pribilof Islands. 



In obedience to instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury, I 

 accompanied the Fish Commission steamer Albatross on the cruise made 

 by that vessel during the month of April, 1892, and took depositions 

 from the natives of Cooks Inlet and Prince William Sound. I also took 

 depositions in Kodiak, Victoria, Port Towusend, and Seattle from white 

 men. In no instance was any liquor given to an affiant; nor was any 

 affiant under the influence of liquor when his statement was made or 

 verified ; and no undue influence of any sort or description was employed. 

 Xo compensation whatsoever was given by the Government to any 

 native or other person for any purpose, and the testimony obtained was 

 in all instances given freely and willingly. 



JOSEPH MURRAY. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of December, 1892. 

 [SEAL.] JOSEPH A. KINSLEY, Notary Public. 



DESTRUCTION OF FEMALE SEALS. 



Testimony of American furrier*. 



Relative to matter of depletion of seal herds of the Pribilof Islands, 

 this most deplorable fact is due in our opinion in great part, if not 

 entirely, to the action of sealers in the indiscriminate killing of these 

 animals while in transit to and from these islands for breeding purposes, 

 the females being killed in much greater proportionate numbers, owing 

 to their less aggressive nature and their being less able to escape. 

 While on their way to these islands the cow (female) seal is in a condi- 

 tion of pregnancy, the period of gestation ending shortly after their 

 landing. If intercepted and killed while in this condition the loss is 

 obvious. (G. G. Gunther's Sons.) 



