FUR-SEAL HEED OF ALASKA. 115 



Mr. Madden. I wanted to straighten that up so there would not be any misunder- 

 standing about it. I think it is only fair to all sides. 



Mr. Elliott. My official tables are all "green" weights. Interpreting the London 

 tables, I take salt weights and keep the London measurements corresponding with 

 the official record of measurements made on the islands. 



Mr. Madden. Your idea is the salt weight of the skins would vary 1^ pounds? 



Mr. Elliott. One and one-half pounds according to blubber and salt. 



Mr. Madden. Only green skins. 



Mr. Elliott. Yes, sir; and the London agent says so. 



Mr. Madden. So, as a matter of fact, if in the one case it was stated by Mr. Elliott 

 a skin would be 4J pounds, and another case 5;^- pounds, and later on 6 and 7 pounds, 

 that it was understood that one was green and another salt, then his statements in both 

 cases would be correct? 



Mr. Elliott. Yes; all the time bear in mind that the weights were unreliable, and 

 the measurements only, reliable, all through my testimony. 



The Chairman. Did Mr. Lembkey understand it in that way? 



Mr. Lembkey. I certainly did not. I stated 1 was very much confused in encoun- 

 tering the different weights for these different classes of skins. 



Mr. McGiLLicuDDY. I think you will find he takes up that matter of blul)l)er and 

 salt. 



Lembkey, jSnally cornered, admitted that the London classification 

 ignored his weight of skins, then attempts to deny his understanding. 



[Hearing No. 9, p. 447.] 



Mr. Lembkey. Yes, the blubber would, 



Mr. Elliott. All that can be done, can it not? 



Mr. Lembkey. I might state here, while you are on that point, that it would not alter 

 except in perhaps a very slight degree the classification of that skin when it was 

 received in London by the factors. 



Mr. Elliott. Certainly. 



Mr. Lembkey. You might make a yearling skin weigh 9 pounds by the adding of 

 blubber, yet. when it got to London it woidd be only so long and so wide. 



Mr. Elliott. That is it. 



Mr. Lembkey. And of course it would develop in the classification when the skins 

 would be exposed for sale. 



The Chairman. Do you mean by that thai you rely when it gets to London on the 

 measurement rather than on the weight? 



Mr. Lembkey. We do not have anything to do with this classification. 



The Chairman. I know, but somebody does. 



Mr. Lembkey. Mr. Elliott is making the point 



The Chairman. You have just said that no matter how much blubl)er there was 

 on it it would not alter the lengih and width. 



Mr. Lembkey. Certainlv not. 



The Chairm.^n. Then do you rely upon the length and width of it rather than on 

 the weight to determine its age? 



Mr. Lembkey. No. sir. 



But he finally is compelbd to admit that the measurement of the 

 salt-cured skin is a reliable indication of its age. 



[Hearing No. 9, pp. 399, 400.] 



Mr. McGiLLicuDDY. If you took a young skin and for the purpose of making it 

 appear bv weight older, you could deceive? , , ^,, . . , . , 



Mr. Lembkey. We certainly could deceive. ^^ e could fill it with any sort of suh- 



Mr McGiLLicuDDY. You say measurement would not be reliable because it might 

 be stretched. Suppose vou did not stretch it. suppose you take it honestly, then 

 would it be, if honestly taken, would it be a test? 



Mr Lembkey. I tried to make that clear to the committee. 



The Ch\irman. That is a direct question. Why do you not answer it? 



Mr. Lembkey. I am attempting to. It is impossible; of course all our actions up 



there are honestlv , . • ^ ^ ^ ■ i.^ -n. ^i. i. 



Mr. Madden (interposing). Answer the question right straight. Do not try to 



explain it. 



