246 BIG GAME SHOOTING IN ALASKA chap. 



with which the opening formalities of the court were invested 

 was very impressive, and when finally Glyn's case came up 

 for trial, and he elected to have a jury, the swearing and 

 seating of these worthy men would have put to shame the 

 most solemn conclave of the learned Ephori of ancient Sparta. 



In my case the evidence was so simple that the Marshal, 

 who acted as prosecutor, merely called Pitka and asked if he 

 saw me kill a sheep during August. He replied that he did 

 see me do so, and when cross-questioned by me he admitted 

 having skinned the beast whole and taking the bones, etc., 

 for scientific purposes. This closed the evidence for the 

 prosecution. 



I then handed to the court my special permit giving me 

 permission to kill two sheep at any time of year for scientific 

 purposes, and stated that I had only killed one of these out 

 of the open season. 



Thereupon the prosecutor arose, and in an impassioned 

 address said that he would like to know what authority 

 Mr. Wilson, the Secretary of Agriculture, had to give extra 

 liberty to any one to kill game out of season, and why I 

 should have a permit different from those of others ; and 

 furthermore what was to prevent my taking out these 

 trophies for scientific purposes, and when once safely out of 

 America, taking them to my own house and hanging them 

 up, instead of presenting them to a museum. 



Up to that point I had been so much amused by the 

 whole case that I was in a fairly good humour, and might 

 have been inclined to let him down easily, but that finished 

 me. Getting on my feet, as he sat down, I started what 

 perhaps will ever remain my best oratorical effort. I showed, 

 in answer to his questions, how the Minister of Agriculture, 

 according to the words of the game laws, had always the 



