118 MANAGEMENT. 



implied fraud in The Commissioners further rely upon Mr. Elli- 



weigkt of bundles. . 



ott's statement, that skins weigh from 5£ pounds 

 to 12 pounds (Sec. 671), and upon the compari- 

 son of such statement with that of Lieut. May- 

 nard, "an independent observer," who gives the 

 average weight of bundles as 22 pounds and the 

 weight of the largest as 64 pounds (Sec. 672). 

 This "appears" to the Commissioners to require 

 "some explanation" (Sec. 673). The implication 

 is evident, and the United States offer the expla- 

 nation in vindication of the officers of the Gov- 



Expianation of ernment who are thus charged. A bundle con- 

 tains not only the two sealskins proper, but salt 

 and blubber, with which they are packed for their 

 preservation; this naturally adds greatly to the 

 weight, as does also the moisture collected by 

 the salt and fur. A bundle will, therefore, some- 

 times weigh as much as 60 or 70 pounds, if the 

 two pelts are large, and even when consisting of 

 only two skins of "yearling pups," weighing 

 when dry probably 5 pounds, the bundle weighs 

 sometimes 20 pounds. 1 It is also a fact that in 

 the early years of the lease some exceptionally 

 larg-e skins were taken on the islands. 2 



VarionB counts A comparative statement of the counts of the 



of skins compared. 



sealskins for the entire term of the lease, made, 

 respectively, by the Government official on the Is- 



1 W. H. Williams, post p. 399 ; Louis Sloss, jr., post p. 384. 

 « H. H. Mclntyre, post p. 373. 



